You Don’t Need to Be a Better Mom. You Need More Support with Michelle Brown

The iDesign Lab Podcast | Where Design, Business, and Culture Shape How We Live and Build

In this episode of the iDesign Lab Podcast, host Tiffany Woolley and entrepreneur Scott interview Michelle Brown about her transformative journey from

Key takeaways

• Michelle Brown was adopted from an orphanage in Kolkata, India, which shaped her resilient 'startup' mentality.
• Brown built a high-intensity career in professional sports, working with the PGA, Portland Trailblazers, and Seattle Supersonics.
• The lack of a 'village' and financial constraints during early motherhood led to severe postpartum depression for Brown.
• iHelp Moms was developed as an app to provide curated, one-click solutions for sleep, feeding, and behavior coaching.
• Brown emphasizes the importance of regulating the nervous system to foster healthier parenting and family environments.

Main topics

• Adoption and early childhood in India
• Career in professional sports marketing and sales
• Challenges of postpartum depression and isolation

Notable quotes

getting support is the brave thing to do

Conclusion

The episode serves as an inspiring testament to turning personal vulne

Transcript preview

Speaker 1 (0:00) This is iDesign Lab, a podcast where creativity and curiosity meet style and design. Curator of interiors, furnishings, and lifestyles. Hosted by Tiffany Woolley, an interior designer and a style enthusiast, along with her serial entrepreneur husband, Scott. iDesign Lab is your ultimate design podcast, where we explore the rich and vibrant world of design and its constant evolution in style and trends. Speaker 3 (0:31) Welcome to the iDesignLab podcast. Today, we are talking about something every parent needs, almost nobody gets enough of, help. Michelle Brown is a mom, a designer of her own podcast and this fabulous book, Ambitious as a Mother. She's an entrepreneur. and founder of I Help Moms, a company that she created from her own struggle to find support when she became a new mom. She has turned that to a personal challenge into a mission to help parents everywhere move from surviving parented to thriving. Welcome to the iDesignLab podcast. Thank you so much both for having me. I'm so happy to be here. You have such like a wonderful way about you and you just are such a driven individual. Strong Speaker 2 (1:22) energy. Speaker 3 (1:23) Great energy. Speaker 2 (1:24) But Speaker 3 (1:25) to start at the beginning for our audience. introduce yourself and Speaker 4 (1:29) how you got to this place. Oh my goodness. Isn't that the magic of motherhood? It is. Our Speaker 3 (1:34) kids bring us to the best places, right? Yes, I love it. And Speaker 4 (1:38) you know, I'd start, I was actually an orphan born in Calcutta, India. If you've ever seen the movie Slumdog Millionaire, that is my life. I was lucky enough to be put into one of Mother Teresa's orphanages called International Mission of Hope. I was four pounds and severely malnourished. And a wonderful family thankfully adopted me into their arms, into their homes. And that's really the impetus, I believe, of the subconscious nature of I Hope Moms. is, it always gets me emotional when I talk about it. Of Speaker 3 (2:11) course, Speaker 4 (2:11) absolutely. Speaker 3 (2:12) I Speaker 4 (2:12) always ponder if my mom had more resources and had permission to ask for help. What would the outcome of our life together have been? And would I have known my mom? Would she have felt less scared? Would she have felt less vulnerable? And I have a deep-seated mission to help give moms permission that getting support is the brave thing to do. And my goal on this earth is to make help for mothers as accessible and affordable as possible. So no mom has to feel alone and scared and isolated like my mom may have felt. Speaker 3 (2:51) That's amazing. Truly. And it just goes to show you that where your life starts doesn't define where it lands, you know? I mean, what a true success story. So Speaker 2 (3:02) how did you end up India to the United States? Speaker 4 (3:06) Yeah. Speaker 3 (3:06) What was the Speaker 2 (3:06) journey? Speaker 4 (3:08) It's a really remarkable story. For me, it's one of faith. And my aunt happened to be an airline stewardess taking the babies from India over to the United States. And I got moved up from the 11th spot to the 7th spot. And my parents that were in Oregon were the 7th parents in line to get a baby thanks to my aunt Pat. And I was adopted. into an incredible entrepreneurial family. And it set the stage for my life of risk and reward and bravery and courage and having a startup mentality from a very young age. My dad was a civil engineer and had one of the largest paving companies in the state of Oregon that he lived in a tent after the depression and went through the military, started his company and worked his way up. And I saw. The grit that that takes and the courage to put your own funds, your own family, your own finances on the line to make a dream come true. And it stuck with me for the rest of my life. And it has been incredible to watch his life. And it's something that I admire more than anything and taught me the principles of building a business with people over profits and really caring about creating a lasting legacy. Speaker 2 (4:21) So you grew up in Oregon. I did. So what age were you when you were adopted and brought over? Yeah, Speaker 4 (4:27) I was just four pounds. I was a tiny baby. So Speaker 2 (4:30) a newborn. Speaker 3 (4:31) A newborn. So Speaker 2 (4:32) you Speaker 3 (4:32) don't know any life but here, Speaker 4 (4:34) really. Speaker 3 (4:34) Yeah, yeah. Amazing. Speaker 4 (4:36) Yep. So an adoption is a wonderful gift. And I was lucky enough to have a mom that cared greatly about education. That was her number one mission in my life was to make sure that I got a very sound education. And I believe education is the future. I think it's just an incredibly power-packed opportunity for people to rise. And so I really never saw myself, you know, use that word of being maybe like a victim or seeing myself as a happenstance of being adopted. I never viewed myself that way. I really view myself as. That experience gave me tremendous character and tremendous grit and tremendous ability to understand I can up-level my life through education and empowerment. Speaker 2 (5:18) Where did you end up going to college? Did you go to college or university? I did, yes. Speaker 4 (5:22) I have, you know, through the... Character building, I would say, of being an Indian in a very homogenous at that time, Oregon. It was a very character building, wonderful experience to be the change I wish to see in the world. And so with that confidence, I had played basketball through high school and I said, you know what? I want to go to college and be an athlete. And so I decided to become a cheerleader my senior year of high school, and I ended up getting a scholarship to go on. I cheered for two years at Oregon State University, which was my parents' alma mater. So that was almost like a given that I was going to go to Oregon State. And then I actually switched teams through just a myriad of things that happened. And I talked to you earlier about being with the Jim Warsaw School of Sports Marketing. Jim Warsaw is a huge alumni proponent and has a school at the University of Oregon. for sports marketing. Speaker 1 (6:14) And Speaker 4 (6:15) I knew that with my enthusiasm and my cheerleader background, that's what I wanted to do with my life. And so I switched schools my junior year and went over to the University of Oregon and was a Ducks cheerleader over there. And we're going to win the national championship this year. I love that. So you Speaker 2 (6:30) stayed in professional sports then after college? I Speaker 4 (6:34) did. I did my internship in college with the PGA. At that time, it was called the Buy.com Tour, was the tour under the main tour. Worked very, very long. hard, amazing days. Learned a lot in the trenches at that point. It wasn't computerized, so a lot of it was manual labor very early. It's been incredible. And perhaps that was maybe one of the impetuses of understanding where technology could go and Speaker 2 (6:59) what Speaker 4 (7:00) it could do in something like professional sports, because I was doing the gritty labor. Speaker 3 (7:05) When Speaker 4 (7:05) you say gritty labor, what do you mean by that? Speaker 3 (7:08) Hours, probably. Yeah, when you were Speaker 4 (7:10) in Del Rey and Boca and you go to these amazing Honda classics and events, you know, right here in Boca. You see the grandstand and you see all these beautiful setups and VIP tents. There are laborers sending all of that up very early in the morning. And that was me. And so we were sending up. Speaker 3 (7:28) And all the little Speaker 4 (7:28) events within an event. Oh, yeah. It's all the sponsorship and all of that matters, right, to the huge brand of the PGA. So everything has to be perfect. And you're not only taking care of sponsors. You're taking care of the tournament attendees. You're taking care of the VIP ticket holders. You're taking care of the players. Like every hospitality tent has to be perfect because you're executing on that brand and that specific sponsorship. That's a lot of work. So you were on the Speaker 2 (7:52) event side of things. I was, yes. And Speaker 4 (7:54) execution Speaker 2 (7:54) of events. And Speaker 4 (7:56) then grew from there and worked for the Portland Trailblazers. Again, I was commuting two hours each way and getting all that good experience in. And then I got the call to join the Indiana Pacers and move out there in telemarketing. And I knew at that time if I could make calls out of the phone book to people I don't even know to sell tickets, I could do just about anything. That is so true. So you moved to Indiana. I did. Yep. And moved to Indiana and worked there for a couple of years and just telemarketing and sales, picking up those phones 12 hours a day and cold calling. And then got the call and the promotion to work in group sales. Did Speaker 2 (8:32) you enjoy the cold calling? Speaker 4 (8:33) I did not, to be perfectly honest with you. Speaker 2 (8:36) Most people don't last very long. It takes a very unique individual to get. you know, so many no's until you get that yes. That phone Speaker 4 (8:45) slammed in the... I love that you say that. I think it's a Speaker 2 (8:48) great lesson for an entrepreneur. I think it builds that entrepreneurism. Speaker 4 (8:54) Talk about building the grit. And I think when you're... I think sports industry understands that they have a very valuable product that 20-year-olds love working in because it's fun and it's... You know, you talked in your podcast about it being fashionable and the way it feels and the energy of things. When you talk about the design of... of a sporting event, there's something very specific that they know that they're doing. And you're an integral part of bringing that little girl in to see Caitlin Clark making her baskets. And my job for the Seattle Supersonics was really cool. I was in group sales at that point. So I got to work with Honeywell and Microsoft and Boeing and the Navy. And my favorite event, I'll never forget, were all the people had come back from being... overseas in the Navy and it was reunifying them with their families. I got to bring Speaker 3 (9:44) them down Speaker 4 (9:44) to the court with Ray Allen and Luke Grudenauer and these amazing, amazing players who truly cared about that moment. And I'll just never forget seeing those families playing on that court. And that is what the sports industry knows. That, you know, young 20s are willing to put in those telemarketing hours and willing to work from 7 a.m. in my life, you know, work until the end of the game, 10 p.m., 11 p.m. at night for that moment. To Speaker 2 (10:09) be Speaker 4 (10:09) a part of it. And to be a part of it. So where Speaker 2 (10:11) did your husband come into the picture? Right, Speaker 4 (10:13) who Speaker 1 (10:13) brings you to Speaker 3 (10:14) motherhood. Because we're Speaker 2 (10:16) coming up Speaker 4 (10:17) to where Speaker 2 (10:17) your real story really is. Sorry to loop back to your original Speaker 4 (10:21) question. One night after the game, you know, we were. Is this Speaker 2 (10:26) when you're in Indiana? Speaker 4 (10:27) Oh, no. When I was in Seattle. Seattle, okay. I was working in Seattle and there's a great place called Queen Anne Hill. And we were out after a game one night, like you'll be in your 20s and have no motherhood responsibilities. And I hear this Philadelphia drawl, say the word water. And again, in the Pacific Northwest, it's not a sound at that point that you'd heard very often. And my head turned like love potion number nine. And I just see this guy and I hear him with this Philly accent. I was like, oh, no. I had worked so hard to get to where I was in professional sports. And there was no way, no way any guy was going to take me off my path to going up that corporate ladder. And I resisted and I tried and I cried. ride. I'm like, I do not want this to happen. And so I took a job, Clay Bennett bought the Seattle Supersonics. And so I couldn't really see myself in Oklahoma. And so Doug Dawson, who's someone that I really admire in the sports world, and then Jeremy Walls, another amazing professional in the sports world, both had opportunities, one with the Dallas Cowboys, one with the Arizona Diamondbacks. And I took the job with the Arizona Diamondbacks. I was going to be selling their pool suites, which, as you can imagine, at 25, that was going to be awesome. Speaker 1 (11:45) And Speaker 4 (11:45) I remember I called my sister. I'm like, I think I made a really big mistake. I think I'm going to leave somebody that could be the one for my career that I've worked so hard for. And so I called Jeremy and I said, I'm so sorry. I've fallen in love. I Speaker 3 (12:05) can't take the job. Oh my goodness. And for such a driven person that had to be so hard. I'm sure. It was Speaker 4 (12:12) really hard. And, you know, my husband, my... boyfriend at that time said, I'm moving to Florida. He's Speaker 2 (12:19) moving to Florida. Okay. I'm Speaker 4 (12:21) a very specific, gentle upper cervical chiropractor. There are no, nobody's doing this down in Florida. I'm specialized in it. There's only 300 doctors in the world. I'm going to move to Florida. My parents are moving down from Philly area and that's where my life. And I was like. You can imagine my parents, my whole family lives in Oregon. Literally across the country. Oh Speaker 3 (12:40) my Speaker 4 (12:40) gosh. It was like a mom's worst nightmare. So I always remind myself that as a mom of three girls now is just never to try and, you know, box your kids in because you just never know what's going to happen. And I moved to Florida and got a job with the Florida Panthers as a director of service for the Merit Center. Speaker 3 (12:58) And here we are. Wow. So when did you Speaker 2 (13:02) get married? After you moved? After we moved, yeah. So you Speaker 4 (13:06) were Speaker 2 (13:06) living down here working for the Panthers. About seven months Speaker 4 (13:09) later, we got engaged. What were you doing for the Panthers? I was the director of customer service for 19,000 fans. Okay. Speaker 3 (13:15) That's so funny, 19,000 fans. Yeah. So obviously marriage led to motherhood, which you were in Florida. So I would think your village is in... Oregon. Speaker 4 (13:28) Yes, very true. Speaker 3 (13:30) So what was that like when you have all these preconceived ideas of what motherhood is like? As you've said, you have the crib, you're prepared, you're married, you have a sound life built, and your footing is nice and standing. Great job. Speaker 2 (13:47) Husband's got a great career. Speaker 3 (13:49) Yeah, a lot of future. So what happened at that time when you landed into motherhood and you realized your Speaker 4 (13:55) village was... Speaker 3 (13:56) Not in Speaker 4 (13:57) town. I think this is where an interesting juncture happens. I think there's something that a lot of people don't talk about as a woman. And really, as my husband was just starting a practice from scratch, we didn't buy a practice. We didn't have any patients, right? So you're not making money. And then back up to sports. I mean, again, sports is one of the most coveted positions to work in. You're not making a lot of money when you're in a base level, you know. C-suite job there at that point in the world. And so we didn't have extra money. So I think that's really important to talk about. And there were no females above me that had children that I could ask, like, how do you balance working 181 events a year, working till 11 at night? All those hours. What are you going to see? I didn't have any mentors. The woman who I replaced didn't have children. So Speaker 2 (14:48) important question. You get pregnant. How long have you been living in Florida? Speaker 4 (14:53) So let's see. We got engaged after seven months and then I left the Florida Panthers because I didn't see a pathway. There was no one role modeling for me that. So I left the Panthers, went and helped my husband at our office, Friends and Family Spinal Care. Were you Speaker 2 (15:12) doing sales? Speaker 4 (15:14) Yes, in marketing. Speaker 3 (15:15) Cold Speaker 4 (15:15) calling. I love it. And that's one of the best things down here is, you know, when you come from the Pacific Northwest at that point in time, not currently, I don't feel that, but. at that point in time, health and natural living was like very inherent to what you, how you lived your life. And that's not really Florida. Florida was very medicalized at that point. It's not wrong or right, but a natural healthcare solution that's non-invasive. And we were bringing gentle, no twisting, cracking, or we don't do any twisting, cracking, or popping. So we were bringing something really revolutionary to South Florida. So it was so exciting to get out in the community and say, if you, if that's not what you want, you want something gentle, like we're here to. do that. My husband's a specialist. So it was awesome. And then I had a baby. We waited five years to build that business and wait till we had enough accrued to really have a family. And so that's, I think the topic that I was getting at is I don't think we talk a lot about the mom that doesn't have unlimited resources. And especially here in Florida, you know, I think it's very common to have au pairs and nannies and help and this and that, but that wasn't our reality. But Speaker 2 (16:21) even just Forget about all the help like that, but having a mom and a dad and the brothers and sisters or all of that was in Oregon for you. So true. I was on an island. That's like Tiffany was saying, you're in Speaker 1 (16:33) the Speaker 2 (16:33) village and you're in a new state. And Speaker 3 (16:37) I also feel like even when you are somewhat, I mean, finances is a huge part, but you don't even realize it until you're. Needing it. And even when you think you're pretty, like you waited five years, you think now's the right time. You Speaker 4 (16:53) don't know what you're going to need. Speaker 3 (16:55) So like you don't like for all of a sudden, even like for us, our first child had, you know, delays and challenges. We had no idea that like therapies were going to cost this much money every month. And this is what you need to do and all of this. So I don't think there is. We kind of did the Speaker 2 (17:11) same thing. We waited about five. years or so before we had a first child just to kind of, as a couple, get acclimated and enjoy. And then now we're ready for a child. But like Tiffany was saying, you know, we ran across delays and so forth and then learned that she's autistic. And what is that? And then I had a bunch of friends and one of them who was the captain of the Florida Panthers who kind of said to me, Hey, I've got the same problem. Speaker 3 (17:38) And then Speaker 2 (17:39) I had another friend who. Speaker 3 (17:41) Challenge, Speaker 2 (17:41) not a problem. What a little challenge, yeah. Another friend who is an athlete who built a hospital for autistic children. You know, so that was kind of our support, but to a small degree. Speaker 4 (17:55) Nobody. I was on an island. Yeah. So you Speaker 2 (17:58) have your first child. What is the first things that you realize like no one has taught you or told you or? Three Speaker 4 (18:05) main things. One, sleep. I had no idea that I could be that sleep deprived. I Speaker 3 (18:13) don't think anybody does until you have a Speaker 4 (18:15) child. I really had Speaker 3 (18:15) no idea. I agree. The first week. It's like you're literally just functioning in a twilight state. Wow. Well, Speaker 2 (18:24) is there also the aspect of the husband and wife getting along through that? With no sleep. Because I remember for us,